Now that winter is around the corner, it is important for students to know when and where they can get a flu vaccine.

Stevenson University is offering the vaccination to faculty, staff and students. Depending on your insurance, the vaccination could be free of charge.  For the vaccinations that are not covered by insurance, a charge of $25 will be billed directly to their SU Student Account. No appointment is necessary. It is recommended to fill out a vaccination consent form before arriving, which can be found online.

Stevenson University’s Wellness Center partnered with Giant Pharmacy to provide the vaccine in order to prevent the spread of the flu virus on campus. Chick-fil-A also handed out coupons for a free item to each student, staffer or faculty member who received the vaccine.

The final day for students to receive the flu vaccine is this Friday, Sept. 29, from noon until 3 p.m.  The clinic is located in the basement of Caves Sports and Wellness near the athletics offices on the Owings Mills campus.

Adriana Barturen R.N., a local Maryland nurse and public health officer, urges all students to get the flu vaccine because the flu virus is highly contagious.

“Let’s say you live in a dorm and your roommate gets sick with the seasonal flu. Your chance of catching the flu increases if you don’t get the flu vaccine,” said Barturen. For students who are not able to receive the flu vaccine, Barturen also provided a few suggestions on how to stay healthy during the flu season.

Some simple tips to avoid catching the flu virus:

• Try to avoid being in contact with those who have the flu.
• Practice frequent hand washing with soap and warm water.
• In a public area, it is essential and avoid touching the face including your eyes, nose and mouth since these are common places the virus may enter the body.

Finally, Barturen said, “Most importantly, if you are sick with the flu, please stay at home and rest. You will do others a huge favor by preventing the spread of this infection.”